Adam of Bristol

The earliest of the European ritual child murder, or bloodguilt, accusations was raised at Norwich in 1144, where the Jewry was accused of crucifying the 12-year-old William. There is no evidence that this actually happened, yet the Gloucester story may have influenced Bristol’s own crucifixion legend. 

The story goes that Adam, young son of William the Welshman, resident of St Mary Redcliffe parish, is seduced into entering the house of Samuel the Jew by the offer of apples and then crucified. The story was probably composed in Bristol, since it displays detailed knowledge of local features. The story conveys interaction between Jews and Christians, which was a fear of the church at that time.